Bill Clinton’s advice to Obama, by John F. Harris
Posted on: September 14, 2008
- In: Elections | Obama
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Bill Clinton’s advice to Barack Obama
Excerpts:
Clinton thinks Obama has erred by putting too much focus on himself and on his supposedly transformational brand of politics — it’s too airy, and it puts him at risk of being branded a hypocrite when, as inevitably happens, he needs to play rough. [sic]
The trick is counter-punching without looking rattled, and without letting your opponents set the agenda of the conversation. [sic]
Clinton believes Obama is on losing terrain if he allows the election to be about pigs and lipstick. Obama needs to soar above that by talking about large themes like energy and global warming, and how to harness the opportunities of a global economy. [sic]
Successful politicians, he believes, look for opportunities to speak to skeptical audiences. [sic]
Don’t take Hillary voters for granted. [sic]
… Clinton will never be fully at peace with Obama until the Democratic nominee makes clear — in emphatic words, in public — that Clinton is not in any way racist, and that he did not try to “play the race card” during the Democratic nomination contest …
This is a fabuous post at Politico. Wonderful points, astute observations, sharp insigts.
It is brilliant, lucid and very well written, by John F. Harris, author of two books about Bill Clinton.
Like several other articles at the venerable Politico, this article is audio-enabled, you can listen to it read by professional reader. Enjoy!
Pumas 4 Palin 
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